E-cargo specialist Urbeez and newspaper distributor PPP join forces
Both players are moving towards more sustainable logistics thanks to micro-farming.
Brussels, September 4, 2023 - PPP, the Belgian specialist in the daily delivery of newspapers and other printed matter founded in 1992, acquires Urbeez, a Brussels-based pioneer in carbon-neutral home delivery. This acquisition is part of PPP's (short for Press, Periodicals and Publicity) ambition to green and diversify its offering.
Mass delivery, bike couriers and flash couriers ... There's no shortage of new players and initiatives in the home delivery sector. But it's not unusual for them to disappear as quickly as they appeared. The last mile is still the Holy Grail of logistics.
Urbeez, an innovative Belgian start-up, has been tackling this challenge since 2020 with a diversified fleet of 100% electric vehicles: bicycles and cargo bikes, but also scooters and vans. With success, since Urbeez has grown exponentially in recent years and has since worked for the free dailies Metro, Brico and 5àSec, as well as major retailers such as Amazon and Colruyt. All this has not escaped the attention of PPP, itself an Urbeez customer.
Sustainable change through micro-execution
"Urbeez and PPP both have the ambition to create positive and lasting change in the logistics sector, based on shared values such as innovation, sustainability and social responsibility. Unir our strengths we will develop more our expertise in microfourniture in order to optimize supply chain PPP and have an impact more important national level and international", declared Michel d'Alessandro, CEO of PPP.
Micro-fulfillment is an innovative logistics strategy that involves working with small local warehouses, often in urban areas, from which customers can be served quickly and efficiently.
"At Urbeez, we're driven by the desire to transform parcel delivery by optimizing logistics through micro-execution. Specifically, we bring products closer to the end customer thanks to our innovative approach that guarantees faster deliveries and reduced emissions. In this way, we want to demonstrate that environmental protection and an unrivalled customer experience can go hand in hand," explains Angelino Capretti, founder and CEO of Urbeez. "What's more, our model also offers a response to the trend to banish (polluting) traffic from city centers, with low-emission zones in mind, for example.
Diversification
In addition to making its operations more sustainable, the acquisition of Urbeez, which delivers meals in addition to "classic" groceries, is also a way for PPP to strategically diversify its activities.
"The fact that the print media are under pressure is nothing new. This acquisition offers us a fantastic opportunity not only to perpetuate and consolidate our business, but also to explore new sectors and new opportunities, thus securing the future of the PPP Group", concludes Michel d'Alessandro.
Newspaper concession
PPP is now one of three candidates for the newspaper begging concession. If the company wins the contract, its collaboration with PPP will be crucial in ensuring sustainable newspaper begging in all urban areas of Belgium.
Urbeez currently has 60 couriers and a fleet of around 40 vehicles.
About PPP
PPP (press, periodicals and advertising begging) was founded in Belgium in 1992. An autonomous company since May 2015, it is Europe's market leader in the delivery of daily newspapers to subscribers.
About Urbeez
Urbeez is a home delivery specialist operating in Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Paris. With its fleet of bicycles (carriers) and other electric vehicles, the young company offers an innovative, environmentally-friendly solution for urban parcel delivery, and a response to the problems of congestion and pollution. By developing its services specifically tailored to customer needs, Urbeez has experienced rapid and strong growth since its creation in 2020.